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Post by msguineapiggie on Feb 10, 2008 21:37:08 GMT
Both of my piggies have dandruff. I don't think it's mites. The little white specks don't move and petting doesn't seem to hurt them. Do guinea pigs actually get dandruff? What do you all think it is?
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Post by newpig on Feb 10, 2008 22:12:01 GMT
Dandruff may just be due to irritated or dry skin which could be caused by bedding or it can be a sign of mites. Mites are tiny and you won't be able to see them. Here is a link which explains more about mites and the signs. www.guinealynx.info/mites.htmlIf it is just dry, irritated skin I would recommend Gorgeous Guineas Coconeem melt, it really did the trick for my Sally and Chocolate when they had some skin irritation last year.
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Eeny
Tin Member
Danny Noriega much?
Posts: 59
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Post by Eeny on Feb 10, 2008 22:30:02 GMT
I would get them treated with Ivermectin for mites. If they've never been treated before chances are its mites or lice. You can either order online or buy from a feed store to treat yourself, or have a cavy savvy vet help you. We thought Dipper had dandruff but it ended up being mites... Better safe than sorry!
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Post by ♥ Z!llab0b!lla ♥ on Feb 10, 2008 23:22:14 GMT
Dandruff is associated with dry skin, so I think it's possible. I don't know about pig-only dandruff shampoos, but I know that Selsum Blue is a dandruff shampoo that reportedly works very well. We use it on our dog and it helps his dandruff. It's been used by me and my dad too. If it works on our dog, I think it's fine for pigs. You can just pick it up at any drug store, it's not hard to find. I know we got ours from Longs.
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Post by msguineapiggie on Feb 11, 2008 5:35:45 GMT
How can you tell that the dandruff is mites (besides the obvious - going to the vet)? How can a guinea pig just get mites? I'm sure they have to come from somewhere... The pigs aren't in any pain. I'm not too worried, it's just a mystery.
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Post by cavyfan on Feb 11, 2008 8:03:55 GMT
Mites can "hide" on guinea pigs without them showing any symptoms, then pop up suddenly for no apparent reason. Mites can also live in hay and bedding or other infected animals that may have come near the cage. I think you can get Ivermectin over the counter at the vets - there is no harm in occasionally treating a guinea pig without mites anyway.
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Post by msguineapiggie on Feb 11, 2008 17:56:57 GMT
How do you pronounce Ivermectin? How much does it generally cost in USD?
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Eeny
Tin Member
Danny Noriega much?
Posts: 59
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Post by Eeny on Feb 17, 2008 4:33:12 GMT
Ivermectin is fairly cheap, I think we paid $30 for a bottle that would last our pigs 5 lifetimes if they constantly had mites! You can order it online, thats what we did. Be sure you're very comfortable weighing the guinea pigs, calculating doses, and measuring medication before you treat them. Incorrect dosages can be fatal.
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 22, 2008 17:24:30 GMT
Eye-ver-meck-tin. I've never had a vet offer Ivermectin over the counter,but my kids have only had mites once, and that was found through blood tests during their six month checkups. I don't think it's about dosages but about them making money for the treatments. If you can get in on line, it might be better. I don't know if it's a US thing to not sell it, or a vet thing.
I'd also advise getting the coconeem, anyway. It helps keep mites, fleas and other biting parasites at bay once the mites are gone. It also leaves the piggies feeling great.
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Post by msguineapiggie on Feb 25, 2008 3:16:29 GMT
Thank you all. I ended up calling my Vet, and they basically said that it's common for guinea pigs to have dandruff, but I have to make sure that the specks aren't moving (the way the vet tech said it was actually amusing). So, I think they are okay.
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Post by Val Amirault-Vale on Feb 25, 2008 3:29:38 GMT
My piggies don't have dandruff. I don't think that it is a common thing at all, as there must be a reason why they would have flaky skin. Dry skin, or skin fungus etc. Are you going to take your piggies for a check up just to be sure? I would be especially concerned since both your piggies have it. Have a look at this link by Peter Gurney: www.oginet.com/pgurney/skinp.htm
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Post by newpig on Feb 25, 2008 10:11:04 GMT
I agree with Val on this. If they have dandruff it is a sign that something is irritating their skin. The only specks that you would see moving on a guinea pig are lice which are not all that common. Mites on the other hand are a pretty common problem but they are microscopic and cannot be seen by the naked eye.
You need to get your guinea pigs skin checked for mites or fungal infections.
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Post by msguineapiggie on Mar 5, 2008 14:53:21 GMT
Oh no. It said that hair having a greasy texture is not normal. My boar has a greasy texture, but my sow doesn't. Sometimes he has little flakes of black stuff. Hmm... I think I shall take them to the vet the next time I have off.
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Post by newpig on Mar 5, 2008 18:52:31 GMT
Is he greasy all over or just around his grease gland? What do you bed them on? If you think they have something wrong then I would recommend trying some of the Gorgeous Guineas products. 2 of my piggys started scratching the middle of their backs last year and opened wounds, one of them also developed a little dandruff around the area. I used the coconeem melt and the lavendar and myrrh lotion and it cleared right up. No more wounds and no more scratching. No repeat occurrence. They also have some descriptions of skin problems on the site which might help you identify skin issues. www.gorgeousguineas.com/indentification.htmlIf you suspect mites or fungal problem please don't delay in treating. Fungal infections can become systemic if left untreated and could cause internal problems for your piggy.
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Post by msguineapiggie on Mar 5, 2008 22:44:32 GMT
He is greasy all the time. I give him a bath with that stuff mechanics use for their hands and it removes the grease and the sticky grease gland spot. My sow isn't greasy, but I have noticed that she did have a little grease gland problem.
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Post by Katie on Mar 17, 2008 9:10:12 GMT
Just to say that my piggie was bedded (up till yesterday) on wood pellets and hay which seemed to just end up with her having bits of hay and stuff on her fur, however i'm gonna buy vet bed but until then she has towels and duvet covers and she dosen't seem to have bits on her at the mo.... hope this helps
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Post by msguineapiggie on Mar 18, 2008 2:38:04 GMT
Thanks, but I know it's not bits of hay, bedding, or food. It looks like dandruff that human would have.
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Post by newpig on Mar 18, 2008 8:26:58 GMT
What happened with the dandruff - did you get your piggy treated?
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Post by msguineapiggie on Mar 18, 2008 14:50:45 GMT
What happened with the dandruff - did you get your piggy treated? Sadly, I have not. Everything is falling apart around here and sadly the piggies are coming last. But I will take them to the vet Friday.
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Post by becksters on Mar 26, 2008 14:50:05 GMT
Clarence had some dandruff in the late fall this year. Freaked me right out thinking it was mites and I rushed them both off to the vets. A very good vet too in the exotics world here in canada. IT was just dandruff. The vet actually thought it might have been a little scratch that scabbed and flaked off. It is possible but I always say better to be safe then sorry, which is why we went off to the vets. Now 6 months later and fine, I think because the fall/winter here the air is so dry due to higher altitutude (we live in British Columbia) is probably what had it happen. But do get them checked. Keep an eye out for above normal scratching, wheeking when you hold them (could be a sign of pain) and any changes in the dandruff ie red spots, more dandruff etc. But I would still get them looked at it never hurts
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